French warplanes struck targets in northern Chad Sunday, helping Chadian troops “repel an incursion” across the border from Libya, the French army declared on Monday.
Mirage jets struck a column of 40 pickups carrying armed groups from Libya deep into Chadian territory, the French army said in a statement.
“This intervention at the request of Chadian authorities helped hinder this hostile advance and disperse the column,” the statement added.
The strikes were the first by French jets in support of Chadian troops since the Chadian rebel Military Command Council for the Salvation of the Republic (CCMSR), based in southern Libya, increased its activities last year in a bid to overthrow Chadian President Idriss Deby, who has faced several rebellions since seizing power in 1990 in a military coup.
France considers Chad, its former colony, as vital in the fight against Islamist militants in West Africa.
The Chadian opposition takes southern Libya a safe haven from which they launch their attacks, exploiting the security void in the area since 2011. However, the rebels have allegedly engaged in attack’s against civilians in Libya.
Most recently, six Libyans were kidnapped in January as they were crossing the main road between al-Jufra District and Wadi al-Buanyis in central Libya. The kidnappers are claimed to be affiliated with the Chadian opposition.
